Forest Hills middle school teacher releases book about notorious criminals during the Civil War

As Civil War buffs and those interested in history continue the observation of the 150th anniversary of the war between the states, Forest Hills Central Middle School teacher and author Tobin T. Buhk has released a book not about the Battle at Gettysburg, Sherman’s March or the Underground Railroad but rather about the most uncivil side of the war.

Buhk, who wrote True Crime Michigan: the State’s Most Notorious Criminal Cases has released his latest book, True Crime in the Civil War: Cases of Murder, Treason, Counterfeiting, Massacre, Plunder & Abuse.

“I’ve always been intrigued with paring true crime to historical events,” said Buhk. So after poring over diaries, autobiographies and court records, he reconstructed Civil War cold cases and crimes through the people who lived to tell about them.

True Crimes follows the time line of the war and recounts such notorious events as the murder of General Earl Van Dorn and the Detroit Free Press’s role in touching off a race riot.

It is a unique history that chronicles each year’s headline criminal cases, providing an in-depth look at the most notorious events. Well known suspects, such as Bill Quantrill and Nathan Bedford Forrest are in the stories along with other, lesser-known characters, such as the paper bandit known as ‘Sue Mundy’ and Captain Alexander, who ran the most feared prisons in both the North or the South.

“I have taken a look at the Civil War’s most infamous episodes,” said Buhk, “and reveal a most un-civil war not found in history books. Delving into the dark side of the war provides us a glimpse into the total war that almost tore America apart at the seams.”

In addition to the fate of the Lincoln assassination conspirators, the Detroit riots and Van Dorn's murder, featured are Sam Upham’s currency-counterfeiting scheme; the tyranny of General Benjamin Butler; violent raids by William Quantrill and ‘Bloody Bill’ Anderson; the Fort Pillow Massacre and the rebel plot to burn New York City.True Crime in the Civil War is available in both print and e-book formats through http://www.stackpolebooks.com/, www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com and most major bookstores.

Buhk is a middle school English teacher with Master’s Degrees in English and Educational Leadership. In addition to the books mentioned above, he co authored Cause of Death and its sequel, Skeletons in the Closet with medical examiner Stephen D. Cohle, MD.

For additional information on Buhk or his work, visit www.tobinbuhk.com and www.truecrimeinthecivilwar.com.